Urgent Call to Prayer…Will You Please Join Us?

World Mission Communications Team Asia-Pacific (WMC-AP) Praying each morning from 9-10am.

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” James 5:16 (NAS) “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6 (NAS)

B-17 Bomber Picking up Flak

Our WMC-AP team has a saying, “When we are over the target we are going to pick up flak.” Just like a bomber in war, when it is flying over friendly territory, the flight is usually smooth and quiet, but the minute it gets close to or “over the target,” the enemy starts to throw up all the “flak” (anti-aircraft fire) possible.

For more than a year, we have not needed to see a doctor for anything, then in the last 2 weeks we have been to the doctor three times! Connie with a shoulder problem, then a drop of bacteria filled water off the roof landed in her eye and caused a major, immediate, issue; back to the doctor. Then followup on the shoulder involving a 20 mile drive, and a 30 minute doctor appointment, followed by a 30 minute physical therapy appointment, required more than 12 hours! As Connie says, “this is what happens when you live in a city of 37 million people and all of them decide to get on the road at the same time!” Add to this, two weeks of cyclical fevers for both of us, most likely a result of mosquito born viruses, and a kidney pain for me (Todd) that had me hurting with every movement…and we definitely feel like we have been picking up all sorts of Flak! It seems that almost weekly we have been adding another family member to the CPL (Cancer Prayer List).

“Been praying for you. You are in need of covering I think.”

One of our prayer and financial partners who has been with us for more than 40 years (was my childhood Sunday School Teacher) and who does not have email, just sent us a card saying, “Been praying for you. You are in need of covering I think.” Truer words were never spoken! We understand it for what it is.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12 (NAS).

We just returned from a tremendous training trip to Indonesia. Click here for story. God was present great things are happening. The Kingdom of God is being advanced. WE ARE OVER THE TARGET!

WILL YOU PLEASE COMMIT TO PRAY!

We can only be here because we have a partnership team back home who prays and pays the price. One of our Team members, Dr. John (our family physician) has walked the road alongside us since our return to Asia. He completed our physicals, treated me (Todd) when I came home with a serious stomach infection, treats our kids, Connie’s brother, and is absolutely a vital link in ministry. He has provided us with his cell number, home number, email, and has encouraged us to call anytime day or night if we need help. As a Christian doctor he is so much more…he is a healer! Dr. John has battled a serious infection and has been hospitalized much of the past 3 months. Many of you will remember we paused our Daughter’s wedding reception on June 15th, and prayed corporately for Dr. John. While our team here in Manila has prayed daily, it’s time to CREATE A WAVE of prayer. Will you please join us in daily praying for this vital team member? Will you do more than pray, would you even consider fasting a meal? Dr. John needs a breakthrough! Pray for his wife Shauna and his precious family as well. Heading back across the ocean again…

In 4 days (Sept 3rd), Connie and I will head for the airport to begin one month of conventions, meetings, and speaking engagements across North America. We will be attending three Regional Work and Witness Conferences, promoting the mission projects here on the Asia-Pacific Region. This will find us in Maryland, Ohio, Oregon, Idaho, and the Northern Alabama District. Pray for safety as we travel, and that God would lead us to the teams, churches and partners that he has for the Asia-Pacific Region. (Speaking and Travel Schedule)

Pray for Connie’s shoulder. The doctor has told her that it is frozen and needs specific physical therapy. Leaving in just three days, this is not possible. He gave her targeted exercises and instructions – we need healing.

Pray for our family. Within our close family we have several dealing with cancer. It isn’t easy when you are across the world and want to be home walking the path with those you love. Again…healing is needed. We have another family member leaving today for yet another term defending the freedoms of our great nation. We need prayer for his protection.

We are not asking for an ice bucket challenge, or a gift of finances, we are asking simply for effective and fervent prayer! We are definitely in need of covering. In our years of mission service we have seen that God Answers Prayer! Time and time again!

Oh my word! It never seems to stop for you guys…praying that each of these items becomes a specific testimony as they have so many times before! Greater is He that is in YOU than he that is in the world – He will make you able to withstand EVERY fiery dart thrown in your direction!

It is 4:30 AM here is Ridgecrest. Ca., and I couldn’t sleep, so here I am in my comfy living room chair reading your message. As humans we may “why” when the flak gathers all around us. I love that illustration. But we know God has a plan for us that we have to accept as it comes. In the meantime, know that there are many who are praying for you, your healing, your travels and whatever else the needs are, God loves you and so do I.
Irene Ekkens
Ridgecrest Nazarene

I am interceding.
Precious Connie, can you get deep tissue message for your shoulder? I have been going to physical therapy for my neck, moist heat therapy combined with the deep tissue message has worked wonders on my neck. I’ve dealt with the neck pain for years.

You are right! The battle is on and you are already victors in the Lords glorious train of victorious warriors.

I know your prayer team is praying mighty effectual prayers. We are still getting unprecedented rain here from the prayers you offered for the Texas Panhandle. Everyday we thank The Lord for his mercies.

May The Lord be near to you as you travel, may he provide your every need.

Nan, thank you so very much. So thankful that we met you and Mark. We so greatly appreciate your prayers! The West Texas District has truly become incredible partners! God bless you! I told Connie it sounds like deep tissue massage is in order!

Psalm 35:1–3
Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. Take up shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid. Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.” NIV

Hi Todd & Connie: Doug & I pray for you both each morning for your ministry, safety, & your family & others there in your area. So sorry to hear of all the physical problems you have had. We will pray for you during our service this Sunday 8/31. It is a mission service. We are having Dr. Larry & Addie Garman (retired) but just returned from the Amazon Jungle where they served. Romans 15:13 (LINKS at Ridgecrest).

Thank you so very much for your prayers. We are where we are in large part because of Larry and Addie. They came to our small church in Eagle Point, Oregon when I was about 8 years old. He fired his blow gun across the platform, shared his stories and I said, “that’s going to be me.” Now, many years of missions service later, the “rest is history.”

When baby Lazarus was born, he died three times and had to be resuscitated. Hence he was given the name Lazarus. Sometime later, we were doing hospital outreach in the ward where there are mothers and babies. And there was Lazarus, sick, looked after by his mother. So we prayed for him and he became […]

Story by Satish Moka ‘Uniform’ doesn’t refer to a ‘pair of clothes of a certain color’ or ‘things of similar size’ or any of the twenty or so descriptions given in the Oxford Dictionary, in this place, it stands for P2-MFU, the venerable Twin Otter which is one of the workhorses of the MAF […]

Story Tim Bax, Member Care Officer at MAF Canada. During my recent Member Care trip to Papua New Guinea, I had the privilege of spending time with our Canadian families in Wewak, Telefomin, Rumginae and Mt Hagen, as well as visiting a number of bush airstrips MAF flies to in the highlands. Needless to say, […]

Story and Photos by Dave Rogers Of all the flying I do in PNG, I find medevac flights the most rewarding. MAF flights benefit the communities we serve in many ways, but nothing has a more immediate and tangible impact than a medevac. They are usually some of the most operationally difficult flights to manage […]